Identification of novel sulfur-containing steroids in sediments and petroleum: Probable incorporation of sulfur into #DELTA#~(5, 7)-sterols during early diagenesis

摘要

A novel sulfur-containing sterane, 4#alpha#, 7#alpha#-epithio-5#beta#-cholestane, has been identified in a sediment extract from the Miocene Northern Apennines marl (Italy) after its isolation by column chromatography and high pressure liquid chromatography. The compound has been characterised by GC-MS and mild Nickel boride desulfurisation and one and two-dimensional ~1H NMR techniques. C_(27)-C_(29) homologs have been detected in sediment extract of three different formations and in one petroleum sample. These sulfur-containing steroids are probably formed by an intramolecular reaction of inorganic sulfides with early diagenetic products of #DELTA#~(5, 7)-sterols.